‘Frustrated’ man who wore KKK-style hood to grocery won’t be charged, CA cops say

A man who wore a white KKK-style hood to a Southern California supermarket won’t face charges, San Diego County sheriff’s officials say.

Photos and videos of the man, who wore a pointed hood with eye holes resembling those worn by the Ku Klux Klan to a Vons supermarket in Santee, north of San Diego, on May 2 prompted an online outcry.

The man took off the hood after being asked by a store supervisor to remove it or leave the store, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

Detectives investigated the incident, but after interviewing the man determined there was not enough evidence to charge him with a crime, a sheriff’s press release says.

“The man expressed frustration with the coronavirus and having people tell him what he can and cannot do,” the release says. “He said that wearing the hood was not intended to be a racial statement. In summary he said, ‘It was a mask and it was stupid.’ ”

The release says the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that hateful speech is still protected under freedom of speech.

“That said, this incident should serve as a reminder for anyone contemplating wearing or displaying items so closely associated with hate and human suffering that our society does not hold in high regard those who do so,” the release says.

“Santee is a city of families and the community is rightfully disgusted at this man’s despicable behavior,” the release continues, noting the sheriff’s office will investigate such cases.

The sheriff’s department had earlier said it would investigate whether the incident constituted a hate crime, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

The original incident drew widespread condemnation.

“Santee, its leaders, and I will not tolerate such behavior,” said Mayor John Minto of Santee, CNN reported. “Santee and its citizens are great, and this particular individual’s actions are not representative of us as a people and a wonderful city.”

“It’s shocking yet not surprising that even during these challenging times, we see people emboldened to express hate,” Tammy Gillies, a regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, said in a prepared statement. “History teaches us that during times of crisis people are looking for a scapegoat.”

“This was a disturbing incident for our associates and customers, and we are reviewing with our team how to best handle such inappropriate situations in the future,” Vons said in a statement, according to CNN.

A few days after the May 2 incident, another man wore a swastika face mask to a Food 4 Less grocery in Santee, KNSD reported. He removed the mask when asked by deputies, and said it was a protest against face mask policies.

This story was originally published May 12, 2020 at 7:50 AM with the headline "‘Frustrated’ man who wore KKK-style hood to grocery won’t be charged, CA cops say."